Sheet aligning and locating means for writing machines



May 2 1939. J. c SHERMAN ET AL EET ALIeNme ANDVLOCATING MEANSFOR'WRITING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1936 Patented May 2, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET ALIGNING AND LOCATING MEANS FOR WRITINGMACHINES man ' Application March 11, 1936, Serial No. 68,220

12 Claims.

I This invention relates to writing machines such as typewriters,tabulating and computing machines, and posting apparatus, andparticularly to sheet aligning and line indicating means by which thepresentation of a particular portion of the sheet in writing positionmay be visually indicated.

In commercial office and accounting practice it is necessary to postentries from time to time in particular locations upon ledger sheets,data cards, or other records. Ordinarily the writing area in which suchentry is to be made is not easily within the vision of the operator whenthe sheet is inserted in the machine. The inlt sertion and adjustment ofthe sheets in the machine to insure accuracy in the location of theinscription upon the prescribed line requires considerable time andnecessitates close attention and more or less intricate, or complicated2o manipulation of the sheet. The purpose of the present invention is toenable the sheets to be quickly and easily aligned with the writingapparatus and readily adjusted by suitable feeding means to present aselected line to be ingo scribed in writing position of the machinewithot loss of time and with minimum motion and e ort.

To this end retractable aligning means is provided with which theforward portion of the so sheets is engaged when initially inserted inthe machine before being advanced by the feeding mechanism. After beingaligned and engaged by the feeding means the forward portion of thesheet is advanced beyond the writing position as and the rear margin ofthe sheet brought into registering relation with one of a series ofgauge indications which correspond to different writing lines upon thesheets. The relation of any particular writing line of the sheet to thewrit- J ing position of the apparatus is thus automatically indicated ata point in easy observation of the operator. During advancement of thesheet as the rear end of the sheet advances into the machine and theforward end' is extended be- 45 yond the rear margin of the sheet, theforward margin will cooperate with the corresponding line calibrationsto continue the line indication of 'the sheet.

' In conjunction with the aligning means optionally selective dualfeeding devices are provided together with guard means positionable toexclude the feeding device not in use while the other feeding device isoperatively connected with the sheet for feeding purposes. Such guard 56means serves to mask 1 exc ude eii g 1?- vice and also to provide aguide means for the sheet as it is fed around the platen.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of sheet posting and aligning appa- 5ratus whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but willbe more efficient in use, positive in operation, uniform in action, ofincreased accuracy, and unlikely to get out of repair. 10

A further object is to provide visual indicating means which as thesheet progresses through the writing or imprinting machine will indicatewith accuracy the position of a selected line or writing space inrelation to the writing position and enable instantaneous selection of adesired line.

A primary object of the invention is to minimizethe time and movementsof the operator necessary for presenting a sheet in the writingor'imprinting machine in position to receive an inscription upon apredetermined area thereof.

A further and important object of the inven-' tion is to provide aunitary device applicable as an attachment to existing writing orimprinting machines with minimum disturbance or readjustment of themachine parts.

A. further object of the invention is to provide guide means forpreventing interference of the inserted sheets with existing machineparts.

With the above primary and other. incidental objects in view as willmore fully appear in the j specification, the invention consists of thefea-' tures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and setforth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred butobviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the 40invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventionalwriting machine to which the present invention has-been applied and showing a ledger or data sheet positioned therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment forming the subjectmatter hereof removed from the writing machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of the ledger or data sheet. Like partsare indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawing, l is the platen carriage or frame of aconventional writing machine in which is mounted the rotary platen 2 andassociated therewith is the usual inclined guide plate 3 extendingupwardly and rearwardly from the platen roll 2. In the present instancethe platen roll 2 is shown provided with retractable feeding pinsengageable progressively in marginal feed holes in the ledger or datasheet. Such feeding pins per se form no part of the present inventionbut are fully described in Letters Patent of the United States, Numbers2,000,649 and 2,000,651. Briefly stated the feeding pins are mounted inthe platen roll 2.for reciprocatory movement in radial direction and attheir inner endsare provided with notches 5 engaging the margin ofan'elliptical cam .6 about which the feed pins 6 travel as the platen 2is rotated. The cam 6 is of such shape and is stationarily mountedwithin the roll in such relation that as the pins are carried about thecam they are retracted wholly within the periphery of the roll and againprogressively projected therefrom in a position to engage the marginalfeed holes of the sheet.

The present sheet positioning and line indicating attachment comprises aplate I to either replace or be mounted over the conventional paperguide plate 3 extending in parallel relation upwardly and rearwardlytherebeyond. The lower portion of the plate I is flanged forwardly andinwardly at 8 to afford a guide chute which serves to allocate theledger sheets 9 laterally -in predetermined relation with the platenroll and writing position. Extending beyond the flanged lower portion ofthe gauge plate 8 is a flexible apron I0 which may be of thin metal,fabric, fiber or other suitable material, which when the device ismounted upon the writing machine extends intermediate theretractedfriction feed rolls H and the platen roll 2 to guide theinserted sheet past the friction rolls and other adjacent parts of thewriting machine mechanism to the positive pin type feeding device. Inevent the machine is not equipped with pin wheel feeding devices, andthe sheet must be fed by the friction rolls, the latter are notretracted and the sheet is abutted at its forward margin between thefriction rolls and platen in the usual manner. In such case the flexibleguide apron I0 is not needed and therefore is omitted. This flexibleapron l0 extends about the lower portion of the platen roll 2 to a pointadjacent to the writing position. The ledger or data sheet 9 beinginserted in the-usual way at the rear of the platen roll is positionedlaterally by the flanges 8 and locating and aligning pins 8a projectingfrom the upper portion of the plate I and passes thence between theflexible apron l0 and the lower surface of the platen roll where it isprotected from and guided smoothly past adjacent writing machine partsuntil its forward edge is advanced contiguous to the projected feedingpins 4. The marginal holes H in the record sheet 9 then engage over theprojecting pins 4 which serve as locating studs for initiallypositioning the sheet relative to writing position.

The record sheet 9 is provided with a succession of writing lines orother designated spaces which bear identifying indicia. The preferableidentification of the .writing spaces is by numbering the lines as isshown in Fig. 4, although obviously the lines may be omitted and spacesmay be otherwise designated as by letter or sym bol. The gauge plate 1extending upwardly and rearwardly from the platen carriage or frame issimilarly calibrated and carries a series oindicia, figures, letters orsymbols, corresponding to those indicating successive writing spaces orareas of the record sheet. Such indicia upon the gauge plate are socorrelated with the writing position that when any selected writing areaof the record sheet 9 is accurately positioned at the impressionreceiving point of the writing ma chine a margin of the record sheetwill coincide with the corresponding indication upon the gauge late 6. DAs illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the gauge plate graduation and indiciaare divided into groups. At the'left of the gauge plate is a group B ofprimary numerals corresponding to the initial writing spaces of thesheet with which the rear or bottom margin of the record sheet willregister when the corresponding spaces are at writing position. Howeveras the sheet is advanced in order to inscribe writing areas close to thebottom of the sheet which necessitates the projection of the forwardmargin of the sheets a greater distance beyond the platen roll suchforward margin will coincide with some one or another of v thegraduations of the group M at the right of the gauge plate to indicatethat the corresponding area is in writing position. Thus during theinitial writing operations on those spaces adia-, cent to thetop of therecord sheet the relative position of the desired writing space to thewriting position will be ascertained by observing the relation of therear or bottom edge of the record sheet with the indicia at the left ofthe gauge plate while if the writing area is close to the bottom of 'theedge of the sheet then the reading will be taken by observing therelation of the forward or top edge of the record sheet with thein'dicia at the right of the gauge plate. Due to the fact that the topof the record sheet is usually occupied by a heading of greater orlesser extent the. calibration indicia is not usually evenly dividedbetween the respective groups.

Although the horizontal alignment of the sheet is effected by theengagement of its margins with the guide flanges 8 and pins 8a andfurther insured by engagement of the feeding pins 4 in the terminal feedholes of the sheet a group of horizontal lines I5 is provided inmid-position upon the gauge plate to additionally facilitate the initialadjustment of the sheet squarely with the machine during its insertionin order that the feed holes may be readily positioned in conformitywith the feed pins 4.

The present device is especially adapted for posting ledger sheets orthe like where a single entry or line is usually to be entered at agiven time and wherein successive entries are to be accuratelypositioned. The device enables the operator toquickly insert the recordor data sheet and by merely observing the top or bottom margin of thesheet in relation to one or the other group of indicia I3 or H upon thegauge plate I according to whether the entry is to be placed in theupper or lower portion of the record sheet, the desired writing spacemay'be ac curately brought to writing position. While in the presentinstance the reciprocatory feeding erably detachably secured thereto toenable convenient replacement.

In practice a thin hard coated fabric such as tracing cloth has beenfound most suitable. Secured to the rear side of the plate I adjacent toits lower edge is a transverse bar or strip IS. The upper portion of theapron I0 is reversely folded upon itself about the bar IS with oneportion of the fold interposed between the bar and the plate. It isremovably engaged and may be detached by merely sliding the interposedportion of the folded apron from betweenthe plate. and bar.

While the present device is illustrated in association with a writing orimprinting apparatus having pin type positive feeding means, as beforeindicated the present attachment is usable with either a friction feedor positive feed writing or imprinting machine. It is only in the eventthat it is employed in conjunction with'a dual feed apparatus havingboth a friction and positive feed means that the flexible guide apronbecomes necessary. If the pin type feeding devices are employed, thefriction rolls ii are permitted to remain in retracted position and theapron I0 is interposed between the retracted friction rollers and theplaten. ,If the ledger or data sheet is to be advanced by the frictionalfeeding means the apron ill is detached from the 1 plate 1 by slidinglyremoving its upper portion from beneath the retaining bar It on the rearof the plate 6.

Inasmuch as ledger sheets and record cards have headings of varyingextent, and also spaces of greater or lesser extent between the lastwriting line of sheets and its bottom margin, it is found desirable toemploy slidingly adjustable calibrated plates ll, upon which appear theindicia l3 and Hi, which may be secured in different positions ofadjustment by screws it, to agree with particular record sheets or cardsto be inscribed. If desired the plates II bearing the gauge indicia maybe located side by side adjacent to the same margin of the guide plateI. Since this change of location is easily understood and involves nodifference of purpose, function, oroperation, it has not beenillustrated.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desir able, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise :the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A writing mafchine having a platen and optionally selective dualfeeding means for advancing writing material around the platen intowriting position including pressure rollers cooperating with the platenand a pin type feeding mechanism engageable with feed holes in thewriting material, to advance the record material beneath the platen rollfrom the rear thereof and thence upwardly past a writing position at thefront of the platen roll and having means for rendering the pressureroller ineffective, characterized by an apron positionable between thepressure rollers and the platen when the pressure rollers are renderedineffective as a feeding means to provide a guide means for the writingmaterial thereover into engagement with the pin type feeding mechanismwhen the latter is effective as a writing material feeding means.

2. A writing machine having a platen and optionally selective dualfeeding means for advancing writing material around the platen intowriting position including pressure rollers cooperating with the platenand a pin type feeding mechanism engageable with feed holes in thewriting material to advance the material beneath the roll from the rearthereof and thence upwardly past a writing position at the front of theplaten roll and having means for rendering the pressure rollersineffective, characterized by a writing material supporting plateextending upwardly and rearwardly behind the platen roll, and an apronpositionable between the pressure rollers and the platen to mask thefeed rollers and provide a guide means for the writing materialthereover into engagement with the pin type feeding mechanism when thelatter is effective as a feeding means.

3. A writing machine have a rotatable platen and optionally selectivedual feeding means-for including pressure rollers cooperating with the 1platen, characterized by an apron positionable between the pressurerollers and the platen to exclude the pressure rollers from operativeengagement with the writing material and provide a guide means for thewriting material fed around the platen by operation of the other feedingmeans, said last named feeding means being rendered effective byrotation of the platen.

4. In a writing machine having a platen, the combination of optionallyselective dual feeding means for feeding writing material around theplaten into writing position, and a member positionable to mask one ofthe feeding means and provide a guide for the writing material fedtherepast and around the platen by the other feeding means.

5. In a writing machine having a platen, the combinationof optionallyselective dual feeding means, one of which is a pin type feedingmechanism, for feeding the writing material around the platen intowriting position, and a member positionable to mask one of the feedingmeans and thereby render it ineffective as a feeding means and toprovide a guide for the writing material fed around the platen by theother feeding means.

6. The combination with a writing machine having dual optionallyselective feeding devices a for feeding record material at the will ofthe and feeding device guard positionable between one of the feedingdevices and the path of the record material during feeding thereof bythe V other feeding device.

8. A writing machine having optionally selective dual feeding devicesincluding frictional pressure rollers for impositively advancing recordmaterial past a writing position and. a pin type feeding deviceengageable in spaced holes in the record material for positivelyadvancing the record material past the writing position duringnon-feeding periods of the frictional pressure rollers characterized bya guard member disposed between one of said feeding devices and the pathof travel of the material while being advanced by the other of saidfeeding devices.

9. An imprinting apparatus wherein record material is advanced past animprinting position by either of two optionally selective feedingdevices, characterized by a guard member eflective to maintain therecord material out of contact with one such feeding device while beingadvanced by the other of the optionally selective feeding devices.

10. An imprinting apparatus wherein both a pin type feeding device and africtional feeding device are provided for advancing impressionreceiving material past an imprinting position, and having means forrendering one such feeding device operable therefor to the exclusion ofthe other, characterized by a guard member overlying the excludedfeeding device for preventing engagement of the material therewith whilethe other said feeding device is being utilized for advancing suchmaterial.

11..An imprinting apparatus wherein record material is advanced past animprinting position by either of two optionally selective v feedingdevices characterized by a member overlying one of the feeding devicesand rendering such member ineffective to advance the material during itsadvancement by the other feeding device.

12. An imprinting apparatus wherein record material is advanced past animprinting position by either of two optionally selective feedingdevices characterized by a member overlying one of the feeding devicesand temporarily excluding such device from operative engagement with thematerial.

- JOHN Q. SHERMAN.

ALBERT W. ME'IZNER.

